Spare-wheel lock



W. H. OAKES.

Patented Oct.

www?.

Patented @ce d, 1.222.

WILLIAM IBI. OAIIES, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GMES COM- PANY, OF INDIMAPOIQIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SPARE-WHEEL LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Il. Ganas, a citizen of the lUnited States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and lState of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Spare-lVheel Lock, of which the ol lowing is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple and effective lock, in which the locking nut is entirely enclosedand is inaccessible, principally for locking spare wheels in place.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is aside elevation, in partial section, of the spare-wheel support of an automobile, with a spare disk-wheel locked in place thereon in accordance with one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged central section through the locking device, showing only aV fragment of the clamping plate, and having the arms of the lock ,housing or box broken away; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the locking device, showing only a portion of the disk wheel; Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of my invention; Fig. 5 is a view similar to the central part of Fig. 1, showing the interrelation of the parts in that form of my invention shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of either Fig. 2 or Fig. 4, showing the nonrotatable mounting of the washer.

A spare-wheel carrier 10 is suitably' supported on the rear end 11 of the automobile or its frame in any suitable way, and at its free end terminates in a disk-shaped plate 12, to which is suitably attached, by bolts or otherwise, a carrier plate 13. A central lock-bolt 14 projects rearward from the plates 12 and 13, andis suitably fastened to one or both of such plates-usually being riveted to the carrier plate 13. rlhe carrier plate 13 also has several wheel-carryin bolts 15 radially spaced from the centra bolt 14 and suitably spaced with relation to each other' so that they will fit into the hubholes in the disk 16 of the spare disk wheel, which at its outer edge is provided with the usual ,tire 17. As shown, there are three bolts 15` which is suflicient. A flanged circular clamping plate 18 also tits upon the bolts 14 and 15, and clamps the central part of the disk Wheel 16 against the carrier plate 13, by the action of acorn nuts 19 on the bolts 15. So far, this is a customary way taai'. serial' no. usuale.

of mounting a spare disk wheel on a sparewheel carrier.

A hollow lock-nut-enclosing box 20 is mounted on-the proJecting end of the lock bolt 14. This box, which is conveniently cylindrical, has at its inner end an inwardly extending Hangs 21 for bearing against the clamping plate 18; and at its outer end is open to permit the insertion of a` locking nut 22 and of a socket wrench for turning such locking nut upon the lock bolt 14, upon which it fits, the locking nut 22 conveniently having an ensmalled closed hexagonall end for receiving such socket wrench. The locking nut 22 clamps against the flange 21, preferably with the interposition of one or more washers 23 suitably held from turning on the lock bolt 14, by conveniently having interengaging rotation-preventing portions, such as flattened portions'on the outside of such bolt and the inside of such washer, as is clear from Fig. 6. rIhe box 20 has an inwardly extending annular ange 24 near its open end, which flange cooperates with the retractible bolts l25 of a suitable circular locking member 26 which fits into the open end of the box 20 and is locked in place `therein by the cooperation of the retractible bolts 25 with the Bange 24. rlhe bolts 25 are retractible by a key 27, to permit the removal ot the member 26; but are shaped so `that the member 26 may be snapped into place without manipulating the key 27. 1When the member 26 is in place, it may be freely turned about its axis, the bolts 25 sliding on the face of the flange 24; and it is so shaped that it is substantially impossible for a jimmy or other tool to be in-l serted between the member 26 and the box 20.

' The box 20 is frequently made of some soft metal, as of aluminum, for ornamental purposes. In order to minimize the possibility of sawing through such box, especially when it is of soft metal, I prefer tov provide a hardened steel inner box, as indicated in Fig. 4. When this inner box is provided` it conveniently consists of a cylindrical stamping 30, which has a press lit within the box 20, and an inner-end disk-shaped stamping 31 which has a peripheral flange 3,2l spot-welded in place in the end of the cylindricalmember 30, the disk-shaped memb er 31 being perforated centrally to permit the passage of the bolt 14, and bearing against the flange 21, of which it is esseni tially a part. lVhen this inner box is used, the locking nut 22, preferably with the 1nterposition of the washer 23, acts against the inner-end member 31, and the inwardly projecting ange 24 is made as part of the cylindrical member 30. In consequence, this inner box of hardened steel, with the circular locking member 26, constitute a complete enclosure for thelocking nut 22, regardlessof the outer box 20, so that even though the outer box is completely destroyed access to the locking nut 22 is not obtained.

The possibility of frictionall f turning the locking nut 22 by rotation o the box 20,

as by turning such box by the oppositely projecting radial arms 35 with which it is usually provided, largely for the sake of appearance, is prevented by the Washer 23, which cannot turn on the lock-bolt 14. lVhile this is ordinarily sufficient, I preferably-supplement it by one or more other devices, especially as the washer 23 ma be lost when Wheels are changed. First, may arrange the arms 35 so that they lie so close to t e clamping .plate 18 that they will not pass the acorn nuts 19 or 'the ends of the bolts 15, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. Second` I may provide the flange 21 with an eccentric pin 36 which projects through a similarly eccentric hole 37 provided in the clamping platey 18, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. If desired, both the eccentric-pin 36 .and the arms 35 which interlock with the acorn nuts 19 may be used. lVith either of these arrangementsthe Harige 21 is provided with a central un-threaded hole 38 which slips freely over the lock bolt 14, as is indicated in Fig. 2, Instead of providing either the eccentric pin 36 or the interlocking of the arms 35 with the acorn nuts 19, I may provide the'ange 21 with internal threads which mesh with the threads on the lockL bolt 14, asxis indicated in Fig. 4, the arms 35 in such case being made oblique to clear the acorn nuts 19, as is clear from Fig. 5: With this arrangement, the box 2,0 is screwed on to the lock bolt 14, and acts-as a primary clamping nut to force the clamping plate 18 againstthe central part of the disk 16; and when the desired clamping has been obtained in this manner, the lockin -nut 22 is screwed on to theV end of the loc bolt 14 tightagainst the flange 21 or member 31, usually with the washer 23 interposed, thus producing a lock-nut action which even with such washer' omitted effectively prevents the box 20 from being turned'. With 4any of these arrangements for preventing turning of the box 20 and thereby turning off the locking nut 22.l or any combination or them, such locking nut 22 is locked against access when the locking member 26 is in place, and is rendered accessible for a socket wrench when such locking member is removed.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination, a spare wheel support having a projecting'bolt, a clamping platev for clamping a spare Wheel upon said support, bolts and nuts for clamping Vsuch clamping plate in position, a box removably mounted upon said first-named bolt, a nut removably mounted on said first-named bolt Within said box for holding lit and the clamping plate in place, and a locking member for closing saidl box and rendering inaccessible the nut Within it, said box being provided with laterally extending arms which interlock with said second-named bolts and nuts to prevent turningof said box.

2. In combination, a spare Wheel support having a projecting bolt, a clamping plate for clamping a spare Wheel upon said support, a box removably mounted upon said port, a box removably mounted upon said bolt, a nut removablymounted on said bolt Withinsaid box for holding it and the clamping plate in place, and a locking member for i closing said box and rendering inaccessible the nut Within it, said locking member being freely rotatable when in lockingpositio.

4. I n combination, a spare wheelsupport having a projecting bolt, a `clamping plate for clamplng a spare Wheel upon said sup-I port, a` box removably mounted upon ,said bolt, a nut removably mounted on said bolt within said box for holding'it and the clamping plate in place, and a locking member for closing said box and rendering inaccessible the nut Within it, said box .having a circula-r inwardly projecting ange, and said 'locking member being provided with retractible bolts yfor cooperating with said flange to normally prevent removal of said locking member but to permit said loc-king member to be turned While in locking position.

5. In combination, a spare Wheel support having a projecting bolt, a clamping plate for clamping a spare wheel upon said support, a box removably mounted upon said bolt, a nut removably mounted on said bolt within said box for holding it andthe clamping plate in place, and a locking member for closing said box and rendering inaccessible the nut within it, said box comprising an inner shell of hardened steel and an outer member in which said hardened steel member fits, said inner vhardened-steel member and said removable locking member together forming a complete enclosure for saidj lock- Las e a lock' bolt, a box having a screw-threaded mounting on said lock bolt, a locking nut removably mounted on said lock bolt `Within It. said box, and a removable locking member which vvhen in locking position closes said le box and encloses said locking nut, said box comprising an inner shell of hardened steel and an outer member 1n which said hardened steel member ts.

t. ln a locking device5 the combinationot la a lock bolt, a box having a screw-threaded mounting on said lock bolt, a locking nut removably mounted on said yloclvbolt ivithin said box. and a removable locking member 1which when in locking position closes said a@ box/and encloses said locking nut.. said box comprising an inner shell ot hardened steel and an outer member in which said hardened steel member ts., said inner hardenedsteel member and said removable locking member @a together forming a complete. enclosure ltor said lockingnut so that the. latter' is still inaccessibleeven though the outer member of said box is destroyed.

8., ln" a locking device, the combination 8@ ot a lock bolt, a box lia-ving a screw-threaded mounting on said lock bolt, a locking nut removably mounted on said lock bolt vvithin said box, and a removable' locking .member which when lin* locking position closes said 85 box and enc-loses said locking nut. said box compris an innershell of hardened steel and an outer member in vv'hich said hardened steer member lits, said inner hardened-steel member, and said removable locking member no together forming a complete enclosure for said locking nut so that theelatter is still inaccessible even though the outer member ot said box 1s destroyed, said locking memo,ea7 Y l' ber being freely rotatable in `and beingy l locked upon said inner shell v vhen in locking vposition regardless of Whether vor not the outer member is present.

9. ln a lockingdev'ice, the combination of a lock bolt, a box having a screw-threaded mounting on said lock bolt-l` a. locking nut removabl)v mounted on saiddlocl bolt vWithin said box., and 'ai removable locking `member which when inlocking position closes said box and encloses said locking nut, said-box comprising an inner shell :of hardened steel ventremoval of said locking member but to permit said `locking member to be turned ivhile in locking position.

10. ln combination. a spare vvheel support having a projecting bolt.; a clamping plate for clamping `a spare vvheelv upon said support. a box removably mounted upon said i bolt. a nut remvabl)` mounted on said boltJ Within said box for holding it and the clamping plate in place. a locking member for closing said box and rendering inaccessible the nut `Within it. anda Washer on said bolt beneath said nut. said washer and saidbolt interlocking \to prevent rotation of the washeron the bolt. f

ln vvitness whereof` l have hereunto set in v hand at lndianapolis. lndiana.l this 1st i da.)1 of Julv.'. D. one thousand nine liun' dred and twenty one. j y

Wllilblilll H. OAKES. 

